There are a lot of pros and cons to Dean’s job, Cas realized pretty early into their relationship.
Like Dean’s alarm going off at 6:00 every morning and thereby waking Cas at Satan’s hour. Con.
Helping Dean with paperwork and documentation into the night because he’s not given the time he needs to do it while actually on the clock. Con.
All of the emergency meetings and random phone calls and emails pouring in during dinner time and even over the weekend. Con.
“Good morning everyone! It’s so good to see you again! Jayden, don’t put your iPad charger in your mouth!”
Hearing the genuine joy in his husband’s voice when he greets his second graders in the morning. Pro.
Dragging himself out of bed a few hours later and wandering through the background of Dean’s class during their math lesson and hearing a chorus of sweet voices disrupting their teacher to shout “Good morning Mr. Cas!” Pro.
Joining in on story time on the days his workload is lighter than usual because the kids like his villain voice best. Pro.
There’s a whole other list of pros and cons for when Dean physically had to go to school, back when the world still spun on its axis and spending time at home felt restful and even privileged.
Like last-second professional developments that kept Dean at work into the evening. Con.
Delivering homemade treats in the middle of the day for a classroom party and the kids looking at Cas like he holds all the contents of the galaxy in his plastic cupcake container from Target. Pro.
Dean bringing home every kind of germ, virus, and bug known to man. Con. A con that’s a little too on the nose for the times they’re living in.
But Dean also brings home the kids’ creations, their glimmering Valentine’s Day cards, spooky Halloween masks still damp from far too much glue, sweet little poems about families and beloved pets and flowers that grow in the cracks of playgrounds written in the fragmented penmanship of those still learning, still growing. Pro.
Seeing the love and admiration in Dean’s eyes as he proclaims the genius of his rowdy bunch of 7-year-olds. Pro.
“Okay y’all, can you show me how we mute our mics? Look at y’all! I see I’m working with professionals here, great job!”
Maybe this new way doesn’t come with quite as many pros and it certainly brought it’s fair share of cons. But at the end of the day, seeing the mist in his husband’s eyes when he signs off to a mixed jumble of cries of “have a good day Mr. Dean!” “Mr. Dean I miss you!” and “Love you Mr. Dean!” Pro. And worth every single con.
“If you keep this up, maybe we can convince Mr. Cas to join us for story time as a reward.”
Cas smiles at the mention of his name, back arching like a cat as he stretches and burrows deeper into his husband’s pillow. He still has a few hours until story time and if he does sleep a little late, Dean is here to wake him up. Pro.